every fire is a lesson learned.

[fightingale]

WHO: Leliana & characters for Antiva mission
WHAT: recruiting characters for the mission, if players are keen beans! if there isn't a starter for you then just contact me and I'll add one asap
WHEN: end of Cloudreach, just before mission departure
WHERE: Skyhold, various
NOTES: Warning for possible discussion of slavery, Venatori related horrors and other such things. I am still on hiatus so I am going to be hideous slow for a few days 8Db

starters in le comments ohoho

Comments

FOR THE IRON BULL.

[fightingale]

Some things can be counted upon. Locating the head of the Bull's Chargers mercenaries in the tavern was amongst those things, although it is not always Leliana attending personally to relay messages.

"The Iron Bull," she starts, and she has apparently intercepted the last drink he ordered, because she is setting it down beside him as she trains her gaze on him. "Do you have a moment?"

[qunari]

He makes himself easy to find for good reasons. It's surprising to see she's come herself for whatever it is, rather than pass messages between their subordinates. Must make it serious, whatever it is.

There's no notion outwardly that he knows that's the case. Instead he smirks, gesturing at an open seat across from him. "Sure. What's on your mind, Red?" Casual as you like. He knows as well as she does how important appearances are.

[fightingale]

And she accepts the offered seat, moving around the table and claiming it smoothly. Red was an interesting name. Obvious, of course, but even the obvious could have nuances woven into it, and she is used to looking for barbs. In some ways she prefers it to Nightingale - it has less baggage, even as she cannot imagine ever carving away that name. It is too much part of her.

"A mission," she says, rather simply. "One that I think would benefit from your involvement."

[qunari]

"You're probably right, then. What have you got for me?"

It's not bragging, just matter-of-fact. If Leliana's already considered him for the job, there's reason. And he's good at what he does. So rather than flatter anyone's ego -- Bull's certainly needed no stroking -- better to get to the details. Whatever she thought she could give away in the open like this, anyway.

Bound to be things she wouldn't say out loud. He can read between the lines, though. Generally.

[fightingale]

"A merchant prince that we believe is supplying the Venatori with cargo." Cargo she says, but there is just enough emphasis on it, just enough of a pause that someone in their trade might notice where others will not. Living cargo, slaves, people whose wills have been stolen from them and their flesh bound. "The Ambassador and I have some interest in his operation and an Orlesian noble who is seeking investment opportunities."

She holds out a scroll, bound, that contains some details on the Orlesian and the the Merchant Prince. "These people need to live."

The slaves, but sure, maybe she means Fortier and Oleastro.

[qunari]

She needs them alive, for questioning more than likely. And she need not wonder if he got the undertone to her words, if the way his face darkens is any indication.

Slaves. He's seen his share in Tevinter-contested areas, freed his fair share of them. Some of them, like Gatt, adopted the Qun in the hopes of a better life. They'd survive. Some were too broken to understand what to do without their masters. A good portion of them had been little more than children.

His blood boils, but he stays where he is, only shifting slightly to lean in over the table and swipe the scroll. "We'll do what we can. Take it that doesn't go for anyone under them, though," he remarks, as absently as one might comment on the weather.

[fightingale]

"No," she agrees, all too easily. "Not those under them."

There is a pause, before she carries on, taking in the way Bull has responded to the information, that shift in his expression, subtle as it may be.

"I have people in Antiva who can help provide the slaves with safe passage to their homes, if they still have them, one they are freed. Some may have an interest in accompanying you back to Skyhold - if that is the case, they are free to do so. I would sooner ensure these people are not left vulnerable to others who might prey on them, rather than press any course of action on them."

[qunari]

There's a neutral grunt on his part, one hand rubbing against the stubble at his chin. "Not gonna put a strain on our resources if we bring back a bunch of former slaves for an indefinite stay, huh?"

Maybe not the wisest choice, but it's not so different from what he'd have done himself. And that's what being leader meant sometimes. Not always the wisest choice, but the ones you could live with. Leliana's got a reputation for being cold as ice, but that's patently untrue.

Every conversation they have makes him more certain of it.

[fightingale]

"To dismiss the possibility would be naive." Clipped, but not unfriendly or cold. Bull's observation is a realistic one.

"Those who wish to stay may become resources in their own right - contribute, become one of us. I can imagine a good many will have little interest in an extended time in the Frostbacks, but I will not deny them that choice. And the gift of freedom can buy great loyalty." That, at least, is more pragmatic.

[qunari]

"It does that."

He's seen the proof of that for himself. And the Inquisition doesn't treat its people poorly. It's a decision-making process he's comfortable with, though even if he wasn't he'd still do the job. One less slaver in the world is never a bad thing.

"So, who's going? Figure on at least two teams, one for each of them."

[fightingale]

"Yourself, Zevran, and Solas are confirmed. Isabela I will be speaking with, presently." There is just the faintest hint of distaste that would be invisible to most, for it does not make it into her tone and barely into her expression, save for a subtle curl at her lip with Isabela's name. She concealed Anders and was utterly unrepentant, and if they did not require ships for access to Antiva City then Leliana would not have considered any thought of her involvement in such a mission, no matter Isabela's famed distaste of slavers.

If not for the presence of the first three, she thinks she may have still found another alternative, tricky as it may have been. "Three who have joined us through rifts; Araceli, Legolas and Ariadne. Teren of the Grey Wardens, and Beleth of Clan Ashara. I believe," and now there is a not-smile, more the absence of a scowl rather than an actual smile, "you will all make for a convincingly rag-tag sort of pirate crew docking in Antiva City and finding some respite in a brothel for a few days."